Process of color-printing.



PATENTED- SEPT. 15, 1903.

v No. 738,875.

P. BARBQUTAU. PROCESS OF COLOR PRINTING. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. 1901.

K0 MODEL.

UNrrEn dramas Patented September 15, 1903.

PATENT @EHCE.

PROCESS OF COLOFi PFilhl'flhlCr.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,875, dated September 15, 1903.

7 Application filed July 27,1901. Serial No. 69,972. (No specimens.)

T0 (LZZ whont it may concern..-

Be it known that I, PIERRE BARBOUTAU, industrial artist, of 9 Rue de Bochart de Saron, in the city of Paris, Republic of France, have invented a new and useful Process of Color-- Printing, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a method for performing color-printing in a simple and rapid manner upon fabrics, paper, or cloths, and the like and imparting to the said color'prints an artistic appearance not yet obtained by any other method of colorprinting hitherto k'nown.

Up to the present when color-printing with blocks upon a strip of paper or on any fabric whateverfor example, a subject such as a flower in three or four colors-a block was engraved for each of the parts of the flower intended to be of a definite color, and therefore three or four blocks were necessary for the purpose. oughly impregnated with a single color in a uniform manner-that is to say, in the same manner as a stamp or the like takes up the ink from a suitable pad. After the block was impregnated with ink it was strongly pressed upon the paper or fabric where the color was deposited. lVhen this coating was dry, a second color was applied by means of a second block, the latter being carefully put upon the first print so as to coincide in such a manner that the colors were correctlyjuxtaposed or superposed in respect of another, and in the same way also the third and the fourth colors were applied upon the paper or fabric. Such is the principle hitherto made use of, at least considered as a whole, for producing subjects in colors upon paper or cloth; but this method ofperforining color-printing has many disadvantages. First of all, the required blocks are very expensive, since they require three sometimes even iive-layers of wood; secondly, each block is only capable of being used for one and the samecolor, and, finally, since the color is, in fact, distributed in auniforin manner upon the en'- graved parts, the pictures obtained on the paper when the color is transferred thereon are plain, without relief and without giving the imitation of nature, which is approximately obtained in water-color paintings,

Afterward each block was thorarranging the blocks one afterthe other and v causing the paper or fabric to pass over them. This simple alteration of the method produces the following effects: First, the blocks can be charged with more than one color, because instead of applying them upon a surface inked with a single color different colors may be applied with a brush to coat the various engraved parts in relief on the block with different colors; second, the paper or fabric being applied to these blocks pressure is brought to beardirectly on the paper, which pressure need not be very great, as it only has to take effect on the parts of the block which are in relief, and thus transfer the color from the block' to the paper in a single way; third, since the blocks are no longer required to be pressed upon the paper or fabric it will not be necessary to give them considerable weight and thickness, which were hitherto required. Their cost is thus reduced, while the manipulation thereof is rendered easier; fourth, since the operator is able to regulate to a nic'e'ty the quantity of colors put on the engraved parts of the block the colors are distributed in such a manner that the reproduction thereof upon the paper will result in an impression showing the graduated shades upon the portions of the picture which are covered; fifth, the blocks being arranged in series, one following the other, the operator is able to bring simultaneously the various portions of the paper or fabric to be printed upon into contact with the blocks, whereby the required time of printing is considerably reduced.

The apparatus in which the improved meth- 0d of color-printing may be carried out is represented in the accompanying drawings.

The said apparatus consists of atable or of a series of tables 1 l, and so on, situated one following the other.

In Figure 1 three tables are shown. Fig. 2 shows a number of similar intermediate tables interposed between two tables after the latter have been moved apart from one another. In this second figure the course taken by the paper is indicated. Fig. 3 shows a sheet of paperprinted in accordance with the process herein described.

Each table is provided with a tray, upon which are placed the various articlessuch as the colors, the brush, and the pads, &c. required by each operator. On the left-hand side of this tray a sliding device or carriage 3 with handles is provided. The said carriage is arranged within a guide 4, hollowed out of the table, so as to be capable of being moved in a direction at right angles to the middle line of the table. Upon each carriage, which may thus be moved at will, is clamped by means of a set-screw or by any other suitable device the engraved block 5, on which the subject to be reproduced upon the fabric or paper is provided in relief, and it is this raised portion of the block which is coated with color. The named devices and contrivances are also found in each of the other tables.

At one end of the line formed by the tables a roller 7 is mounted upon the supports 6, the strip of paper or fabric to be printed upon being wound on the roller 7, from which it is rolled off, passing over the blocks and being received on a drum 8, which may be turned by hand.

Considering what has been said above and having regard to Figs. 1 and 2, which show the arrangement in a perspective view, the mode of operation is easily understood.

The paper or fabric to be printed upon is first damped in a dam ping-stove or any other means, this damping taking place to such a degree as to allow of the colors to be applied adhering to the paper or fabric. The paper is now wound upon the roller 7. Moreover, before each reproduction the paper or fabric or the like must be kept at the same degree of dampness by rubbing it with a wet sponge, which the apprentice may apply on the back of said paper or fabric. This done, the blocks, plates, or cliches previously engraved in relief are coated with the suitable colors, each block being attended to by an operator, assisted by an apprentice. In order to render theiinproved method quite clear, we will assume that the subject to be reproduced on the paper consists of a group of three flowers, as shown in Fig. 3, and the proportions to be coated with different colors are to be indicated by letters of reference, a meaning black, 1) pink, 0 blue, d violet, 0 light green, andfdark green. In the same way we will assume that three tables, and consequently three blocks, are made use of for one operation.

Preparing the bZ0clcs.In using three previously-prepared blocks it is rendered possible, as will be explained, to reproduce the six colors mentioned, and since each of the six colors will be reproduced showing graduated shades a series of tones is obtained by using only three blocks,which would require at least twelve blocks in any other method hitherto known when thesame or analogous results were to be obtained. The first block 5 is engraved in relief, representing the petals and buds of the three flowers. It will be coated with a separate brush for each color by the operator attending to this block. The

colors I), c, and (I t-hat is to say, pink, blue,

and violetare used, of which colors only a very slight coating is applied. This operation is executed in the following manner: The operator applies the color by means of a brush or any other suitable device only upon that portion of the subject in relief on the block which corresponds to the portion of the picture to which the color is to be transferred at a maximum of intensity. After this the operator takes off, by means of a moist piece of cloth, some color only from the periphery of the inked zone and spreads out this color upon the parts of the block which have not been coated, thus applying on these parts a smaller quantity than before and causing after the transfer is effected the graduated shades to be reproduced. Nowtheblockisreadyforprintingthat is to say, if a paper or any fabric is brought upon this block the colors on it are transferred to the paper or the fabric in the proportion as they are found upon the block, the same effects of graduated shades being therefore reproduced upon the paper or fabric as they were obtained upon the block by rubbing it with a moist cloth, as described above. Upon the second block 5 the leaves of each flower are engraved in relief. This block is coated, upon the same principle as block 5, by the operator attending to it with one color e only, with the light green. Finally the third block 5 is engraved in relief for the center or heart of each flower and for the veins of their leaves. The heart portions are coated with color a, with black, and the veins with dark green f.

It is easily understood that hitherto it has been impossible to engrave two adjacent subjects to be printed in different colors on a single block. However, with the present method of applying the colors to the block it is rendered possible to put on each block a more or less considerable number of subjects requiring different colors. When the blocks are prepared in this manner, the printing is effected as follows: The operator attending to block 5 and assisted by an apprentice begins to nnroll the paper from the roller 7 until a suflicient length of it is obtained to cover the block 5, which he has caused to advance in the slide until the mark 9 is opposite mark 11. By now directing the paperaccording to the mark 11, situated on the table, he applies the same upon the block 5, coated with color, The position of the as described above.

block corresponding to the said application is illustrated by Fig. 2. By means of a flat pad and circular handle the operator now rubs on the paper in such a manner that the paper bears thoroughly on the portions in relief of the block which are charged with color. At

the end of a short time the colors are trans-' ferred to the paper, whereupon the operator makes a mark with a conspicuous colorfor example, with red on the said paper corresponding to the transverse mark 10.of the block, the latter serving as guides to the operators who attend the following blocks. That having been accomplished, the operator lifts the paper, draws the carriage with the block on it toward himself, puts fresh color on the engraved block, while the assistant, causing the paper to unroll continuously, draws in front of himself a length of paper equal to that having just been printed before. This length is moistened by means of a sponge, as described above, and the same operation may be repeated indefinitely. In order to facilitate the lifting of the paper from the block, a paper-lifter or a lifting device 13, consisting of a rod or blade of wood, metal, or of-any other suitable material, doubly folded in the shape of a reversed U, is lodged within the table, but so that it does notproject above its surface when not in use. This lifting device pivots on pins which engage in sockets situated inside the table q. Semicircularrecess 14, made in the prongs of the reversed U, enables them to be lifted at will and the paper raised from the surface of the table upon which it was applied, thus permitting the carriage with the block to be replaced in its original position without any risk of soiling the blocks provided with fresh colors. After the operator attending to block 5 has thus performed two or three prints the operator of block 5 takes up the extremity of the paper falling on the left-hand side of the operator attending to block 5. Now the block 5, coated with colors, is pushed so far that the longitudinal marks 9 come opposite those 11 of the table, when the operator puts the first portion of the paper on the block 5 in such a manner that the red indications upon the paper coincide with the transverse marks 10 of block 5. The operator now rubs the paper vigorously, whereby the transfer is accomplished, since the marks upon the blocks and those upon the table are previously arranged so that the leaves engraved upon block 5' are exactly juxtaposed at the suitable place for the petals printed upon the paper. In case fabrics are used which are more flexible than paper, and therefore more difficult to guide, a third transverse mark 12 is provided at the top of each block and at its left-hand side for indicating the original position of the fabric. In case the left-hand-side marks of the blocks consist of two pins serving to fix the fabric in position two other supplementary pins may be employed for securing the right side of the block where they are placed. After the operator attending to block 5 has thus made two or .more prints the operator of the block 5 begins his work, and from this moment all three operators are simultaneously at work, the one being always ahead of the other.

Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare that whatl claim is-- 1. The herein-described process of printing upon paper, fabrics or the like from a plate or block bearing a figure to be reproduced, consisting in applying a printing-ink or material of the desired color to the figure on the plate by means of a suitable brush, stencil or the like, spreading the ink or material on the figure to vary the shade thereof, applying the paper, fabric or the like to the plate and pressing it against the same by hand-pressure.

2. The herein-described process of printing upon paper, fabrics or the like from a plate or block bearing a figure to be reproduced, consisting in applying printing-inks or materials of different colors to different parts of the figu re on the plate by means of a suitable brush, stencil or the like, applying the paper, fabric or the like to the plate and pressing it against the same by hand-pressure.

3. Theherein-described process of printing upon paper, fabrics or the like from a plurality of plates or blocks each bearing part of a complete subject or design to be reproduced in different colors, consisting in applying printing-inks or materials of the desired different colors to the parts of the subject or design on the plates or blocks by means of a suitable brush, stencil or the like, applying the paper, fabrics or the like to the plates in succession in proper position to print the different parts of the subject or design in juxtaposition thereon, and pressing the paper, fabric, or the like against each plate or block in succession by hand-pressure.

4. The herein-described process of printing upon paper, fabrics or the like from a plurality of plates or blocks each bearing in relief a part of the complete subject or design to be reproduced in different colors, consisting in applying different-colored inks or coloring materialto the parts of the subject or design on the different plates by means of a suitable brush, stencil or the like, spreading the ink on one or more of the plates to vary the shade of the coloring produced, applying the paper, fabric or the like to the plates in succession in proper position to print the different parts of the subject or design in. juxtaposition thereon, and pressing the paper, fabric or the like against each plate in succession by handpressure.

5. The herein-described process of printing upon paper, fabrics or the like from a plurality of plates or blocks each bearing in relief a part of the complete subject or design to be reproduced in different colors, consisting in applying diflerent-colorcd inks or coloring IIO material to the parts of the subject or design on the different plates, respectively, by means of a suitable brush, stencil or the like, one or more of the blocks having two or more colors thus applied to difierent portions of the figure thereon, applying the paper, fabric or the like to the plates in succession in proper position to print the different parts of the subject or design in juxtaposition thereon, and pressing the paper, fabric or the like against each plate in succession by hand-pressure.

G. The herein-described process of printing upon paper, fabrics or the like from a plurality of plates or blocks each bearing in relief a part of the complete subject or design to be reproduced in difierent colors, consisting in applying diiferent-colored inks or coloring material to the parts of the subject or design on the diiferent plates, respectively, by means of a suitable brush, stencil or the like, one or more of the blocks having two or more colors thus applied to ditferent portions of the figure thereon, spreading the ink or coloring material on one or more of the plates to vary the shade of the coloring produced, applying the paper, fabric or the like to the plates in succession in proper position to print the different parts of the subject or design in juxtaposition thereon, and pressing the paper, fabric or the like against each plate in succession by hand-pressure.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PIERRE BARBOUTAU. Witnesses:

ANTONIO FERNANDO DE LA CALLE, EDWARD P. MAoLEAN. 

